Section 3 Cheese Quality

**108**

2009;**64**:2

*Goats (Capra) - From Ancient to Modern*

[1] Ahmed M. Pashmina—The Kashmir Shawl and Beyond. Vol. 60. Srinagar: City Books Publications; 2003. pp. 3-4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2010.00597\_23.x

**References**

[9] Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Digest of Statistics. Vol. 4. Srinagar: Planning and Development Department, Directorate of Economics

and Statistics; 2005. pp. 2-3

Management. 2017;**2**:1-10

[10] Malik I, Wani F. Pashmina goat farming in cold arid desert of Ladakh: A geographical study of Changthang region. International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and

[2] Shakyawar D, Raja A, Ajay K, Pareek P, Wani S. Pashmina fibre: Production, characteristics and utilization. Indian Journal of Fibre and Textile Research. 2013;**38**:207-214

[3] Sheikh F, Ganai S. Pashmina goats of India: Current research scenario on their production characterization and exploration of developmental strategies with focus on genetic improvement. Animal Science Reporter. 2018;**11**:1-3

[4] Bhasin V. Life on an edge among the Changpas of Changthang, Ladakh. Journal of Biodiversity. 2012;**3**:85-129

[5] Ganai T, Misra S, Sheikh F. Characterization and evaluation of pashmina producing Changthangi goat of Ladakh. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 2011;**81**:592-599

[6] Bhattacharya T, Siddhartha M, Sheikh F, Sharma A. Changthangi goats: A rich source of pashmina production in Ladakh. Animal Genetic Resources/ Resources Génétiquesanimales/ Recursosgenéticos Animals.

[7] Namgail T, Sipke, Herbert H. Pashmina production and socioeconomic changes in the Indian Changthang: Implications for natural resource management. Natural Resources Forum. 2010;**34**:222-230. DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2010.01303.x

[8] Wani S, Wani M, Shoaib Y. Economics of pashmina based transhumance production system in cold arid region of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics.

2004;**35**:75-85

**111**

**Chapter 7**

**Abstract**

cheese).

**1. Introduction**

area of 25,713 km2

20°34′51″ and 21o

Macedonia

*Erhan Sulejmani*

Goat Cheese Quality in North

The most significant agricultural industry in North Macedonia is the dairy industry, and white-brined cheese is a popular dairy product with a great history and the most selling cheese in the country. Considering the climatic conditions and the experiences of other countries, the Republic of North Macedonia has capacity for adequate development of goat breeding by creating small-to-medium goat farms and application of intensive or semi-intensive goat farming systems. There are various breeds of goats in the Republic of Macedonia such as the domestic Balkan goat, Saanen, and Alpine and crossbreeds between these breeds. The official restriction of goat breeding in the territory of Macedonia in 1947 had disastrous consequences; however, in 1989, goat breeding was again allowed and has increased. There are three most significant kind of cheeses manufactured in Macedonia, like white-brined, beaten, and kashkaval. White cheese in Macedonia (belo sirenje) is a brine cheese type with salty taste and close texture similar to beyaz peynir (a Turkish white

**Keywords:** domestic Balkan goat, white cheese, kashkaval, beaten cheese

The Republic of North Macedonia is a land-locked country in southeastern Europe in the Balkan Peninsula, with 850 km of frontier with five countries: Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, and Greece. The country has a surface

560,000 ha are classified as cultivated land and 704,000 ha as permanent pastures. Mountainous forest land covers 37% of the country, and about 2% is covered by lakes. Livestock and goat farming is very important in the Polog area, in the foot of the Sharr Mountain. These areas represent a mountain chain stretching from the southern part of Kosovo and northwestern Macedonia to northeastern Albania. The Sharr Mountain represents the largest mountain massive in Macedonia and extends to these geographic coordinates, between 42°41′43″ and 42°16′34″ north latitude, as well as between

meters wide. It includes a number of high points, among which the highest peak of the Titov vrv is 2747 m, Mali Turc (2702 m), Ljuboten (2498 m), and Bistra (2641 m).

Goat breeding in Macedonia is defined by spontaneous and continuous development, and with each day, there is major concern of farmers for goat's growth as a market that provides secure subsistence and business. The breed structure of goats in the country is based on the domestic Balkan goat with a certain representation of the Alpine breed goats, Saanen, and crossbreds of these races. The basic product

. Half of this area (1.26 Mio. ha) is agricultural land, out of which

16′00″. The mountain system is about 80 km long and 10–20 kilo-
